Mercedes-Benz Ponton Tool Kits

In the USA during the 1950s, Mercedes-Benz vehicles were
sold through Studebaker-Packard dealerships. Here is a service letter
from Studebaker-Packard Corporation (South Bend, Indiana) that includes a
chart showing the tools and accessories that were furnished with each
type of new Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicle of the period.

The Studebaker-Packard chart is not always consistent with
the illustrated, model-specific Mercedes-Benz Ponton spare parts lists
(catalogues). One such contradictory item is the U-shaped wheel mounting
fork. The chart provided in the Service Letter lists the tool as being
part of all models in the Ponton range, yet not all spare parts catalogue
illustrations (that have been provided in the creation of this web page thus far) include that particular tool. One spare parts list illustration
(see below) which does include the U-shaped wheel mounting fork
is from the Type 190SL roadster. The publication dates of the parts catalogue
illustrations may be significant as to the corroboration of the Studebaker-Packard
document, which is dated December 12, 1957. Unfortunately, in the case
of the Type 190SL tool kit illustration (see below), no publication date
was provided. Other tool kit illustrations on this page are dated for
comparison with the Studebaker-Packard Service Letter. Note the differences
between the early (May, 1956) versus the later (July, 1959) tool kit illustrations
for the Type 190 sedan, below.

All models in the Ponton range used a 12 mm wheel lug nut (17
mm wheel nut wrench size) while the Type 300SL roadster-cabriolet, Type W136 170S-V sedan (7/1953-2/1955)
and Type 300 "Adenauer" sedans of the era used a larger 14 mm wheel lug
nut and wheel lugs (19 mm wheel nut wrench size). These cars also had a larger diameter U-shaped wheel
mounting fork in their tool kits. Besides helping to align and install the
wheel, the fork also protected the threads of the lug from damage during
tire removal and installation.

Tire pressure gauge (0.5 - 4.0 atü) and box. The box
is missing the label designating which model it originally came from.
However, it is known that this gauge came from a 1958 Type 300SL roadster-cabriolet
(8/1957-2/1963). The car was owned by Larry
Hansen of Penn Yan, NY. The service letter from Studebaker-Packard proclaims
that the tire pressure gauge was no longer furnished as standard equipment
as of December 12, 1957. Courtesy: Jeff Miller

Mercedes-Benz part number 121 589 02 03. Special tool designed for 14 mm manifold
nuts on Type W121 190SL. The first group of numbers (121) identifies the tool "originated" with the 121
chassis or engine, but that does not limit the part or tool to that specific car. The second group of
numbers (589) signifies parts group 58, which is "tools and accessories."

This illustration (Table 43, Group 58) is from a
Type 300 Adenauer limousine spare parts list. Item 18 (spark plug wrench) has a spring at the end. Item 13 (long-handle
pliers) is not shown in other Ponton-era kits, but is described in the
Service Letter as "Adjustable Pliers" (000 581 01 38). Items 11 and 12 are socket wrenches; special tools
for the Type 300 only – used to service the generator and water pump assembly. Finally, Item 24 – the pouch (186 580 01 07)
was not canvas, but leather (usually red) as was the "Bag for car Papers" (a.k.a. documents pouch) (000 585 02 95) also
provided with the Type 300 limousines. The service letter proclaims that the tire pressure gauge was no
longer furnished as standard equipment as of December 12, 1957. Here is a link
to the Type 300 Adenauer tool kit.

Mercedes-Benz Ponton tool kit. The green screw driver handle
is unusual (not original). The hex (Allen) wrench is 6 mm. The small box contains spare
fuses. There are two different common colors for the canvas pouch: beige,
and olive drab. Here, the beige pouch appears to be in good condition.

Most original Ponton era tools (with possible exceptions
depending on which market the vehicles were sold in) were black anodized,
not silver plated. The silver plated tools were introduced later.

Tool kit for Mercedes-Benz Ponton

Detail of same tool kit. The screw driver handle appears
to be plastic, and thus from a later kit. The original, wood screw driver
handles are hard to find in good condition.

The illustration above is from the Mercedes-Benz Type 190
Spare Parts List, Edition A, dated May, 1956. Note it includes the
U-shaped wheel mounting fork. Compare this to the illustration below for
the Type 190b dated July, 1959.

Illustration of Type 190b sedan tool kit and accessories
as per spare parts list dated July, 1959. Note that the U-shaped wheel mounting
fork is not shown in this illustration. The Service Letter (above) from
the Studebaker-Packard Corporation (dated: December 12, 1957) lists the U-shaped
wheel mounting fork as part of the Type 190 tool kit. The wheel mounting
fork must have been phased out with the introduction of the Type 190b (6/1959).

Also note the service letter from Studebaker-Packard
proclaims the tire pressure gauge was no longer furnished as standard
equipment as of December 12, 1957, yet this illustration from July, 1959
still includes it.

An original, unopened tool kit for the Type "190/220/220S."
Since the bag is unopened, we do not know if the tools are black anodized
or silver plated. If they are silver, this kit may be from the post-Ponton
(Heckflosse) series, which would include the Type W110 190c, W111 220b and
W111 220Sb.

Reproduction tool kit pouch with contents including a fuse
kit (top right) and tire pressure gauge (0.5 - 4.0 atü). The pressure gauge
was from a 1958
300SL roadster. The correct Ponton sedan, coupé, and cabriolet pressure gauge
only goes up to 3.0 atü. The fuse kits
are still available new from Mercedes-Benz. The silver plated
spark plug wrench and handle in this photo are from a later Mercedes-Benz
tool kit. Courtesy: Jeff Miller / July 4, 2003

This Mercedes-Benz leather key fob came from a 1960
Type 190b Ponton sedan and is authentic for Ponton series cars. The owner bought
the car new, and this was the original fob. In 1964, the Heckflosse series cars
also included a plain leather fob similar to this one.

Photo Courtesy: Ricardo Alarcón Jiménez / February 23,
2012

Note the tool kit illustrations for the 190, 190b, 220SE,
190SL, 300SL roadster, and 300 Adenauer limousine include a key fob that has
the three-pointed star, so both style fobs appear to have been available at the same time.

Photo Courtesy: Ricardo Alarcón Jiménez / February 23,
2012

Here is the tool kit illustration that came with the 1958
Type 300SL roadster-cabriolet (8/1957-2/1963). Note the shape of the canvas
pouch. It is different from other pouches in the Ponton line- up. It
resembles one of the Type 190SL pouches.

This 14 mm hex (Allen) wrench (120 581 05 65) appears to be included
in the illustration (item 7) of the 1958 Type 300SL roadster-cabriolet
tool kit. However, the Studebaker-Packard letter lists a different part
number (120 581 06 65) for the "drain plug wrench size 14" for the Type
300SL. The sedans, coupés and cabriolets are also allegedly supplied with
the same (120 581 06 65) wrench. The obvious difference between the two
wrenches is the profile. Photo Courtesy: Tyler Carlson

Original style 14 mm hex (Allen) wrench

The original Mercedes-Benz Ponton 14 mm hex (Allen) wrench
(120 581 06 65) is used for the following drain plugs:

differential (both drain and filler plugs)

gas tank

oil pan

transmission (both drain and filler plugs)

Note some automotive supply stores sell generic ("L"
shaped) 14 mm hex (Allen) wrenches. The profile of these "L" shaped
wrenches may not work on the Ponton differential and transmission filler
plugs because there is not enough space to get the wrench into position.
In that case, either the original Mercedes-Benz tool, or the modern combination
wrenches (detailed below) will be needed.

Modern Equivalent Oil Service / Combination
Wrenches

The contemporary Mercedes-Benz (Daimler AG) part number for
the oil filter combination wrench is 000 589 24 07 00. As of June 2014,
the tool was still available through the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in
California.

As of January 2006, the Stahlwille tool company sold a
combination wrench that had the same profile as the original Mercedes-Benz wrench. It included a 14 mm male hex key at one end (for the
oil, transmission, differential and gas tank plugs) and a 17 mm box wrench
(used on the oil filter canister) at the other. The Stahlwille part
number was listed on their website as either SF 3677 or 3677.

The Hazet tool company also made a version of this tool
under the part number 2760.